100-car pileup on U.K. bridge injures dozens

Poor visibility leads to 10-minute accident southeast of London

Fire officials say up to 100 cars have been involved in a traffic accident on a fog-shrouded bridge southeast of London.

Kent Fire & Rescue Service says hydraulic cutting equipment was needed to free six people injured in the pileup that took place on New Kingsferry Bridge in Sheppey, which is located in the southeast English county of Kent.

A rescue worker works amid the wreckage of some of the 100 vehicles involved in multiple collisions, which took place in dense fog during the Thursday morning rush hour on the Sheppey Bridge in Kent, east of London. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

Kent Police said there were reports of at least eight serious injuries and 60 minor injuries.

South East Coast Ambulance Service says that by midday it had transported 35 patients to six hospitals.

The accident began at about 7:15 a.m. local time and continued on for 10 minutes as cars and trucks slammed into each other.

Witnesses put visibility at 20 metres and images from the scene showed masses of twisted metal.